What is the difference between Lalibela, Axum and Gondar style crosses?

They are conventional names for families of Ethiopian cross designs associated with those historic places and their churches. A newly made pendant is a Lalibela-style or Gondar-style cross: the name describes the design, not where or when the piece was made.

Is an Ethiopian cross the same as a Coptic cross?

No. The Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Churches are distinct from the Coptic Church of Egypt, and their crosses have their own long design tradition. We call them Ethiopian or Eritrean Orthodox crosses.

What karat is your Habesha gold jewellery?

21K gold, which is 87.5% pure gold and stamped 875. Ask on WhatsApp for the current pieces and their weights before you order.

Can I order Habesha jewellery from outside the UAE?

Yes. We share photos, weights and prices on WhatsApp, and custom pieces can be made to order.

Can you make a custom Habesha cross or wedding set?

Yes. Send a photo or describe the design on WhatsApp and we will confirm the metal, weight, price and making time before you commit.

Habesha Jewellery in Dubai: Ethiopian & Eritrean 21K Gold

7 Rain Jewellery makes and sells Habesha jewellery from the Gold Souk in Deira, Dubai, for Ethiopian and Eritrean customers in the UAE and abroad. We stock Orthodox-style crosses and wedding sets, and we make custom pieces. You can see each piece in our showroom, or get photos, weights and prices on WhatsApp.

Ethiopian and Eritrean crosses

The cross is the best-known Habesha jewellery form, and its history is long. Christianity was adopted in the Kingdom of Aksum in the 4th century, and Ethiopian craftsmen went on to develop an unusually wide variety of cross designs. Museum collections such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum record three main kinds: large processional crosses, hand crosses carried by priests, and the small neck crosses people wear.

Today's pendants carry those designs forward. Names such as Lalibela-style, Axum-style and Gondar-style describe families of design. They do not mean a piece was made in that place or is old. We use the names in that sense, and we never call a new piece "ancient" or "antique".

Jewellery for Meskel, Timkat and weddings

Two Ethiopian Orthodox feasts are inscribed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. Meskel, the Finding of the True Cross, is held in late September and was inscribed in 2013. Timkat, the Epiphany, is held in January and was inscribed in 2019. Both are times when many families wear or give a cross.

Weddings are the other big occasion. Our Habesha range includes necklace-and-earring sets to wear with a habesha kemis, and cross pendants. We make other wedding pieces to order.

21K gold and custom work

Our Habesha gold jewellery is made in 21K gold: 87.5% pure, stamped 875. Each piece is weighed and quoted individually. Before you pay, we give you the metal, purity, weight and making charge in writing. For custom work, send a photo or a sketch on WhatsApp and we will confirm the design, price and making time first.

Ethiopia and Eritrea

"Habesha" is a word many people in the Ethiopian and Eritrean highlands use for themselves, but not everyone from either country does. Ethiopia and Eritrea are two countries with shared and distinct traditions. Our designs serve customers from both.

Where to find us

Our Habesha collection is at Branch 4: Shop S1, Galaxy Plaza Hotel Building, Gold Souk, Deira, Dubai. It is open daily from 10:00 to 22:30.

See current Habesha pieces on WhatsApp

Instagram: @7rain_ethiopian_jewelry · Showrooms: Gold Souk, Deira, Dubai

Our catalogue

Habesha sets in our showroom

Weights in grams. Ask for today's price on WhatsApp.

**Coin pendant necklace and earring set**Ask about this piece →

**Delicate flower pendant and earring set**Ask about this piece →

**Dome pendant necklace and earring set**Ask about this piece →

**Domed disc pendant set with earrings and ring**Ask about this piece →

**Filigree disc pendant set with bracelet and earrings**Ask about this piece →

**Filigree flower bridal set with bracelet and earrings**Ask about this piece →

**Floral motif necklace earring set**Ask about this piece →

**Floral pendant chain set with earrings and ring**Ask about this piece →

**Flower medallion choker set with bracelet and earrings**Ask about this piece →

**Flower pendant necklace earring and ring set**Ask about this piece →

**Flower pendant set with bracelet ring and earrings**Ask about this piece →

**Gold bangle stack**Ask about this piece →

**Gold cross tray**Ask about this piece →

**Grand flower pendant set with bracelet ring and earrings**Ask about this piece →

**Medallion pendant set with earrings and ring**Ask about this piece →

**Petite flower pendant set with ring and earrings**Ask about this piece →

**Round medallion necklace and earring set**Ask about this piece →

**Statement pendant (bold 21K piece)**Ask about this piece →

**Sunburst filigree bridal set with bracelet and earrings**Ask about this piece →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Lalibela, Axum and Gondar style crosses?: They are conventional names for families of Ethiopian cross designs associated with those historic places and their churches. A newly made pendant is a Lalibela-style or Gondar-style cross: the name describes the design, not where or when the piece was made.
Is an Ethiopian cross the same as a Coptic cross?: No. The Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Churches are distinct from the Coptic Church of Egypt, and their crosses have their own long design tradition. We call them Ethiopian or Eritrean Orthodox crosses.
What karat is your Habesha gold jewellery?: 21K gold, which is 87.5% pure gold and stamped 875. Ask on WhatsApp for the current pieces and their weights before you order.
Can I order Habesha jewellery from outside the UAE?: Yes. We share photos, weights and prices on WhatsApp, and custom pieces can be made to order.
Can you make a custom Habesha cross or wedding set?: Yes. Send a photo or describe the design on WhatsApp and we will confirm the metal, weight, price and making time before you commit.

Habesha jewellery from the Dubai Gold Souk